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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. rest — what's left
  3. net — after costs
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rash — a series
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rest — what's left
  10. net — in sport
  11. rest — a break
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. rash — hasty
  15. net — for catching
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bulb — for light

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com